Poof! Read online

  “You did, but I wasn’t sure I’d find it so I left early. I was having my coffee in the hall when Wilda came and let me in. We’ve been getting acquainted.”

  “I see that.” I nodded to Wilda who gave me an ironic smile.

  “Can I do anything for you?” Mike said.

  Unaccustomed to all this morning chit chat, I stood staring at my two co-workers, in a bit of a daze. My mornings are usually spent in quiet solitude, allowing me time to make lists, collect my thoughts and make plans for the day. Managing employees’ workload had not been on any list since Janice, my former, very part-time assistant flew the coop. Wilda managed herself.

  Rousing myself, I said, “Well, let’s see. Let me head in and check my schedule, then we can chat, okay?”

  I resisted the strong urge to shut my office door while endeavoring to get on with my usual routines – bill paying, checking messages, and shuffling papers. This lasted about ten minutes.

  “Mike, got a minute?”

  She instantly appeared at the door. I waved her in and she sat in one of the two empty chairs in front of my desk. I came around and took the other.

  “Wilda stepped out,” she said.”

  “She does that.”

  “She’s an interesting person.”

  “One of a kind. She’s paid to be invisible, but now and then she likes to hang out here.”

  She regarded me quizzically, but said nothing.

  “The thing is, I haven’t had people in the office for a while. I’m kind of a loner so I probably won’t be a very good host.”

  “No problem. I want to help if I can, but I promise to stay out of your way.”

  A lovely young woman, Mike was petite, with an athletic build and bright chestnut eyes as arresting as her father’s baby blues. She had worn the uniform today—jeans, a tee shirt, and running shoes.

  I smiled. “Well, if you’re willing, I am. As I think I told you, my very part-time office assistant, Janice moved to Antigua with her boyfriend. Since she left, the office has been in chaos. Paper work is not my thing and the desktop on my computer is so crowded I can’t find anything.”

  “Well, I’m willing to dive in, if you point me in the right direction.”

  I decided to let her tackle the paper nightmare first. We chatted a while and I set her to work on the file cabinets and the boxes and piles on my desk. I retreated to the outer office to make phone calls.

  My first one was to my friend, Bud, a former tenant in the building who moved his insurance business to fancier downtown offices. I do a lot of work for him and was way behind. He had left a number of voicemails, each one a little more peevish than the last. I braced myself, expecting a tirade, but he was in a great mood. We spent some time prioritizing the jobs, including one that had to be completed “today, Rick, no ifs ands or buts.” I promised results by five and rang off.

  The next call was to the law offices of Brackett and Pearson. I asked for Jill Carlson and was transferred to her assistant, Tina.

  “Oh, I’m sorry. Ms. Carlson is all booked up today. Is it urgent?”

  “Kind of. What about tomorrow?”

  “Well, let’s see. She has an opening at eleven.”

  “Perfect. Please put me in.” I asked for directions then rang off, hoping that my contacting Meridian’s attorneys would not set off any alarms. I was getting a bad vibe about the entire organization, despite their do-gooder school.

  I rang Jimmy Chen, but his phone went straight to voicemail. I really wanted to poke around that apartment again. I grabbed my bag and peeked around the door to the Inner Sanctum. Papers were everywhere, but Mike seemed to be making headway.

  She looked up at me. “I think I’m getting the hang of it. I’m making a pile that may be recyclable, but you probably ought to take a look before I shred and chuck.”

  “Poor thing and this is why you went to medical school?”

  She blanched and her bright open expression vanished.

  “You okay?”

  “Sure, yes,” she said, gazing downward. When she finally met my eyes, hands on hips, she appeared to have shaken off whatever demons had grabbed hold of her.

  “You hungry?”

  “Starved.”

  “Great. Let’s grab lunch and then you can come along on a drive by, if you want.”

  “But, what about this?”

  “It’s been like that for over a year. A few more days won’t hurt.”

  Chapter 12

  We settled into a booth at Dino’s.

  “Hey, Rick,” Dino said, filling our water glasses. “Who’s your beautiful, young friend?”

  “Mike, this is Dino, and that’s his wife, Lois, behind the counter.” I waved and Lois winked.

  We both ordered the soup and half a sandwich, mine a B.L.T. and Mike’s a grilled cheese and mushrooms.

  “Can I get you something besides water, ladies.”

  “Iced tea for me,” I said.

  “Me, too, thanks, Dino,” Mike said, smiling up at him.

  Unlike my sometimes prickly self, Charlie’s daughter was open and warm, comfortable in anyone’s company. Too bad this was only temporary, I thought. She’d be a great addition to the team, not that I could afford her. Wilda takes a percentage of every job and works several other jobs when I don’t need her.

  “Sorry about my freak out earlier,” she said, shuffling her silverware from side to side.

  I said nothing, waiting for her to continue. “Being a doctor is amazing, especially working with my dad. It’s just really intense and I needed a break.”

  “I can imagine.”

  “Thanks for understanding and thanks for allowing me to be here. Sorting someone else’s paperwork is a perfect occupation for me right now.”

  “Happy to have you. And, you’re doing me a huge favor.”

  Dino soon appeared, serving our meals with a flourish. “I added some curly fries and coleslaw, dolls.”

  “Thanks, Dino,” I said. “This looks great.”

  We ate in silence for several minutes, enjoying every bite of Lois’ kale soup and our luscious sandwich halves. Finally I asked, “So, how long have you and Dad been living in this area?”

  “He’s been here about a year, me six months. Once he decided to buy his house, I knew he’d be sticking around. We’ve been together so long, growing up and then work. I missed him.”

  “So, how have you found life in this broken-down mill city?”

  “Okay, actually. There’s lots going on down on the waterfront and I’ve joined a U.C.C. church with a terrific young minister. She rocks. She’s brought a lot of people my age into the congregation and we have a great time.”

  “Boyfriend, or significant other?”

  “Not yet. I dated a guy when I first moved here, but it didn’t work out. How about you? Do you have a partner?”

  “Nope. Failed relationships are kind of the story of my life. I’m not very good at them, apparently.”

  “Maybe you haven’t met the right guy?” I looked up to find her smiling, a twinkle in her eye.

  “Maybe, but I had a tough break up recently so I’m on the bench right now.”

  “Good. You and Dad can be friends. He’s looking for buddies.”

  “Oh?”

  “He’s spent so many years traveling that he never seems to have time to meet women.”

  “What about your mom?”

  “They split up years ago. She got fed up with his constant traveling and went looking for love somewhere else, if you know what I mean. She’s remarried, a cardiologist. They live in Providence. We’re not close. She pretty much made our childhood a horror show.”

  “I’m sorry. That’s too bad.”

  “What about you? Do you have family around here?”

  “My sister Annie lives in California, our mom died when we were young. My dad’s still going strong. He lives in the city with my stepmother, Rita. She’s the one who hired me for this job.”

  “I’m sorry about
your mom. Was she sick?”

  “In a way, I guess. She committed suicide.”

  Mike blanched as she clapped a hand over her mouth. “Oh, Ricky, that’s terrible. I’m so sorry.”

  “It was a long time ago.” I turned away and waved at Dino for the check.

  “On me, dolls. Lois insists,” he said, as he swished by the table. Dino does this about once a month. I repay him by doing small jobs like rewriting his blurbs when they change the menu.

  We spent several hours researching for Bud’s insurance fraud case. This involved a visit to the Registry of Deeds and a trip to the Main Library, where I pulled out my laptop, wrote up the report then paid five dollars to the reference librarian to print two copies. I swung by Bud’s office and told Mike to deliver the report “into Mr. Dixon’s hands only,” then waited idling at the curb. Before she’d exited the building, my cell phone rang.

  “You have an assistant, now, good. There’ll be no excuses for work to be late.”

  “I love you, too. Give my best to Mary.” I clicked off as Mike hopped into the jeep.

  “He’s a nice guy,” she said. “Seemed shocked to see me.”

  I laughed. “Good, serves him right.”

  I turned the jeep onto Main and headed for Prospect. I managed to find a spot a half a block from Jimmy and Josh’s apartment. I parked and killed the engine.

  I turned to my new assistant. “Much as I’d love to have you with me, it’s probably safer for you to stay in the car.”

  Her face fell. “You’re the boss.”

  “It’s just, I don’t want to answer to your father if anything should go wrong.”

  “I’ve spent the better part of my adult life in countries at war. I’m sure I’ll be safe on this quiet little street, but it’s your call.” She gazed downward, no doubt holding her breath.

  “Oh, what the hell. Let’s go.”

  We started up the sidewalk, just as a tall, young man, hopped out of a battered truck and headed our way. He looked familiar. Tousled brown hair, jeans and faded Battleship Cove tee shirt. As he looked up, I was pretty certain it was Josh Peabody. He paused and I thought he might bolt, but then he spied Mike and interest flickered in the hazel eyes.

  “Josh?” I said, trying not to spook him.

  “Guess you found me,” he said, throwing up his arms in mock surrender.

  “Do you remember me?”

  He nodded. “We met last year at your dad’s. You’re the P.I. who spoke to Jimmy and my mother.”

  “Guilty as charged.”

  “How you get by the gatehouse gauntlet at the Bluffs?”

  “I have my ways.”

  “I was expecting someone younger, like her,” he said, gesturing at Mike.

  “Sorry to disappoint you. This is my associate, Mike.”

  He came forward, hand outstretched and shook her hand. He made no move to shake mine.

  “So, what’d you want?”

  “Cassie’s worried.”

  “She hired you?”

  “No, and she’d be furious if she knew I was here. Her mother hired me.”

  “Figures. Well, you’ve found me. Your job is done.”

  “Can I tell Cassie you’ll be in touch?”

  “It’s complicated.”

  “Oh?”

  “Do you want to come in? I’ve got to grab some stuff.”

  I said a prayer of thanks for Mike’s presence. No way he’d have invited me in had I been alone.

  “Sure, we have a few minutes,” I said. What was I going to tell Rita?

  We followed him in and up the stairs. As he unlocked the door, I was never so grateful for our light lunch given what awaited within.

  Chapter 13

  Jimmy Chen, or what was left of him lay on the Kilim rug. Unrecognizable, his face a swollen mess of black and blue, some of his fingers had been broken and blood was everywhere. A straight-backed wooden chair lay on its side to the left of the body, strips of duct tape dangling from it.

  “I should check for a pulse,” Mike said, grabbing latex gloves from her bag as she knelt beside him, hand to his neck.

  Josh turned green, rushed into the kitchen, and vomited in the sink. As I called 911, Mike stood, shaking her head then stepped back to stand beside me. I’d seen dead bodies, but nothing like this. From the ugly crimson line circling his neck, it appeared he’d been strangled, but the poor man had suffered before death.

  Skirting the body, I stepped into the kitchen. “Josh, listen to me. I need you to pull yourself together. We have about five minutes before this place’ll be crawling with cops. Are you listening?”

  He nodded, wiping his mouth with a dirty dish towel.

  “This apartment has been turned upside down. I need for you to check around, your room and Jimmy’s and see if anything’s missing. Can you do that?”

  He nodded.

  “Good, just steer clear of the body, okay?”

  Josh disappeared into the bedroom and I joined Mike who was ashen faced, staring at the remains of Jimmy Chen.

  “Mike, are you okay? Do you want to wait in the jeep?”

  “No, I’m fine, this isn’t ... I mean, I was trying to...” Tears rimmed her eyes and she listed to one side.

  Fearing she might keel over, I grabbed hold of her arm. “It’s okay.”

  Clearly it was not okay, especially for Jimmy Chen, but I patted her back. I was glad to comfort her at the same time frustrated at the missed opportunity to snoop around. Then I remembered, I had found Josh Peabody. My job was done.

  I had requested Douglas Roberts. Ten years my senior, he spent most days at a desk, but occasionally accompanied a homicide team into the field. I breathed a sigh of relief when the tall and slender man himself walked stepped through the apartment door.

  “Jesus Christ, what a mess. Steele, what the hell are you doin’ in the middle of this? No bullshitting.”

  As his men fanned out and began processing the scene, I gave him a quick rundown of the situation ending with the chance meeting with Josh Peabody on the street.

  “That doesn’t explain why his roommate here is dead. What’d we know about him?”

  “He works for Meridian Imports. In trying to locate Josh, I’ve been trying to speak to the people who work there, but they’re an elusive bunch.”

  “We’ll see about that. Is that guy with the green face the roommate?”

  “Yup, that’s Josh.”

  “Mr. Peabody, I wonder if you might accompany Ms. Steele downstairs? I’d like to talk with you both in a few minutes?”

  Josh nodded and stepped into the living room holding a box. “Whoa, kid. What’s that you’ve got there?” Roberts stepped forward to peer into the box.

  “Just a few clothes and stuff.”

  “Everything stays for now. Once we’ve gone over things, we can bring you back to collect your clothes, okay? Now, wait outside and I’ll be down directly.”

  Josh dropped the box to the floor and followed Mike and me out of the apartment, where the three of us sat on the front steps. Josh started to speak, but then fell silent. He was trembling.

  Mike and I exchanged glances. “Josh,” she said, placing her hand on his arm. “You’re in shock. Can I get you some water?”

  He shook his head and I gave her the eye. She hopped up and headed for a convenience store on the corner.

  I placed my hand on his shoulder. “Can I call someone for you?”

  “No, thanks.”

  “Did you find anything missing?”

  He nodded. “All my school stuff. The kids’ papers, my plans, everything. Jimmy’s stuff is gone too. No briefcase, no computer. At least I had my computer with me. He also had a small portable safe. That’s gone as well as the cash he keeps in his closet. At least I think it’s gone. I was just checking the closet when I heard the cops’ voices. After the weird thing that happened to my phone, I’m sure his phone is gone, too.”

  “Weird thing?”

  “The school has a rule�
�cell phones and laptops go in a box just outside the classroom door. After class yesterday, I picked mine up and it was off, which was weird cause I usually just mute it. When I turned it on, it was scrubbed clean, every app gone. My emails, texts, photos, everything.”

  “Can I see it?”

  He pulled an IPhone out of his back pocket and handed it to me. Sure enough, except for settings, the weather, a calculator and his internet, text, and mail connections, the screen was blank. When I clicked on the Message icon, there were no contacts, no messages, nothing. Same with email and Internet.

  “Did you try recovering things?”

  He nodded. I spent hours at the Apple store yesterday, but no luck.”

  “What about ICloud? Are you on that?”

  “We tried that. ICloud storage had been wiped clean, too. How would someone know all my passwords?”

  “Tech savvy people can get past a password in the blink of an eye. How long are you in class?”

  “Three hours or so.”

  “More than enough time. What about your computer?”

  “I lock that in the school office. It’s been scrubbed too. Email, internet history, cookies, all that stuff. My school files are missing, too.”

  Mike returned with three bottles of water and handed one to Josh and one to me. I stood. “Just on the off chance that the evil ones missed something, I’d like you to lock up your computer.”

  “It’s in the jeep. Would you take it?” he asked, gazing at me with sad puppy dog eyes.

  “Of course.” No sooner had we transferred the laptop from his jeep to mine, then Roberts appeared.

  After eyeing us, he knelt in front of Josh and patted his knee. “I know this is a shock, Mr. Peabody, but do you feel up to answering a few questions?”

  Josh nodded.

  “Good, let’s have you come downtown, to the station. My men can drive you or Ms. Steele. Your choice.”

  Josh looked at me, eyes pleading.

  “I’ll drive him. Mike can follow in his truck.”

  “Fine,” Douglas said, grabbing me by the elbow and pulling me aside. “And when we get there, I wanta every scrap of information you have about this mess, comprende?” I opened my mouth to speak. “Save it, Steele.”